Chapter 2343: S-Rank Guide Forced Love 28

The night grew deeper, and the smoke of battle had not yet fully cleared.

You Zan strode through the bustling crowd, heading for the deep-gray commander's tent at the center of the camp.

He still bore still-wet blood and the residual heat of battle, and the glances cast his way along the route were varied and complex.

He lifted the heavy radiation-proof door curtain, and inside the tent was a completely different world.

The air had been efficiently filtered, finally feeling clean; the light was bright and focused, illuminating the massive holographic tactical sand table and communications equipment.

Jin Chen stood before the sand table.

You Zan walked straight to his side, carrying the killing intent and bloody scent from the battlefield, slightly raising his face like a beast waiting for its master to wipe its paws.

"I'm here." You Zan said,

Jin Chen's gaze shifted from the sand table to You Zan's face, stained with grime and sweat.

He drew a soft handkerchief from his uniform pocket and carefully wiped You Zan's cheeks, chin, and the smudges on his ears.

You Zan unusually obediently tilted his head, allowing Jin Chen to wipe him, and the collar on his neck faintly showed with his movements.

The black jungle cat leisurely licked the dust off its paws, then lightly leapt over to nuzzle beside the reclining white wolf.

The white wolf glanced over, then moved close to lick its fur.

Returning to the battlefield, the feeling of unrestrained combat allowed You Zan's long-dormant ferocity to be released in full, the exhilaration still coursing through his blood.

As his deeply linked guide, Jin Chen clearly sensed that restless pleasure within the mental landscape.

After wiping, Jin Chen put the handkerchief away and placed his palm on You Zan's forehead.

"Do you have a headache?" Jin Chen asked softly, his voice especially clear in the quiet tent.

You Zan carefully sensed himself.

The mental landscape was stable, the collar's soothing power continued to operate, and this level of battle and pollution impact was far insufficient to trigger his aftereffects headache.

He shook his head: "No pain."

Yet his body moved a step closer to Jin Chen, that clingy reluctance to leave almost taking on substance.

He even lowered his head, rubbing his still slightly prickly short hair into Jin Chen's open palm like a big cat seeking pets, the motion carrying a hint of domineering, his voice gruff: "I want to live with you."

This is a temporary camp; the commander's tent is the only single room.

A smile flickered in Jin Chen's eyes; although he had no intention of separating from his wife, he still teased him on purpose.

"Does this comply with the rules, Sentinel? The commander's tent isn't a sentinel's dormitory."

His fingers slipped into You Zan's short hair, rubbing with a bit of force.

You Zan lifted his head, staring obstinately at Jin Chen: "I don't care; don't even think about sleeping with anyone else."

Jin Chen looked at his overbearing, slightly childish possessive demeanor, and the teasing thought in his heart grew stronger.

He put his arm around You Zan's waist and led him toward the simple camp bed inside the tent.

You Zan practically clung to him at once, their contacting kiss carrying the predatory nature of returning from the battlefield.

Just as their breaths intertwined, Jin Chen's palm slid down You Zan's tense spine.

"Reporting, Commander!" the guard's voice came clearly from outside the tent.

"A-rank Sentinel Lin Dun requests an audience!"

You Zan's body instantly stiffened, a flash of annoyed fury crossing his eyes.

He tightened his grip on Jin Chen's waist even more, burying his face in the neck crook like a beast guarding its food, using action to show refusal.

Jin Chen felt his resistance, was about to speak, when You Zan suddenly rose, even deliberately making any sound so Jin Chen wouldn't have a chance to respond to the outside inquiry.

Thus Jin Chen covered his mouth.

"Mmph!" You Zan glared at him.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, his eyes signaling him not to make a fuss.

You Zan didn't care, darting his tongue out to quickly lick Jin Chen's palm.

Jin Chen's eyes grew warmer with amusement, he soothingly rubbed You Zan's tense nape, whispering in a breathy voice, "Behave a little."

Then Jin Chen raised his voice toward the outside, his tone already restored to calm composure.

"What is it?"

Lin Dun's voice came through the door curtain: "Commander, sorry to disturb you. It's about today's battle, those mutant creatures…… I've made some discoveries and feel I need to report them immediately."

You Zan snorted coldly in his heart.

He had been fighting on the front lines the whole time and noticed nothing abnormal; what could Lin Dun have found?

It must be an excuse!

He clung to Jin Chen even more tightly, silently protesting with his eyes: "Don't go!"

Jin Chen glanced at the simulation sand table, lightly patted his back to signal him to loosen up, then rose from the camp bed.

Half a minute later.

Having received permission, Lin Dun lifted the door curtain and entered.

He was a tall young sentinel, a member of the elite assault squad; upon entering he looked straight ahead and gave Jin Chen, seated behind the desk, a standard military salute.

"Commander!"

"Speak." Jin Chen's voice was calm and unperturbed.

Lin Dun immediately reported: "Yes! Commander, while serving in the old archives, I participated in the suppression of the insect‑type mutant swarm logged as Record X87."

"Their habits are very peculiar: after suffering an initial strike, they often adopt a disperse‑and‑conquer strategy, splitting into small groups to hide in the rubble's complex terrain, then launching a coordinated fierce counterattack at night or before dawn the next day, usually aiming to disrupt our deployment and interfere with subsequent operations."

"The characteristics of the mutants we encountered today match the X87 record closely."

"I'm worried they may launch a large‑scale counteroffensive tonight or tomorrow morning; if we proceed into the core area at dawn as planned, we could be caught off guard by them."

Jin Chen's gaze fell on the tactical sand table, his fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop.

Lin Dun's report was logical and well‑founded; he was indeed speaking about substantive matters.

You Zan raised an eyebrow under the table.

Tsk, Lin Dun actually got something right.

He had only been focused on slaughtering before, and indeed hadn't paid much attention to how those insects were distributed or their retreat patterns after death.

Through the narrow gap between the desk and floor, You Zan could only see Jin Chen's knees and abdomen in his neatly pressed uniform pants.

He thought Jin Chen was presently focused on watching Lin Dun, earnestly listening to the report.

Unwilling to be left out, You Zan, relying on his fit build, silently squeezed out from under the table, his back pressing tightly against the cold inner side of the desk panel.

This posture was cramped, but he didn't mind; he stretched out his finger, with a hint of revenge and mischief, began to pick at Jin Chen's waist belt, his fingertip deliberately scraping the metal surface, producing a faint click.

Still annoyed, he moved in again and took a bite of Jin Chen's calf.

Jin Chen's hand on his knee paused, then naturally fell under the table, firmly pressing down on You Zan's restless hand, letting him bite his hand lightly and repeatedly.

Lin Dun finished his report and nervously awaited Jin Chen's orders.

He clenched his fist, as if mustering courage, and spoke again: "Commander! Besides…… today's combat intensity was high, the mental pollution impact was also strong; although your barrier is formidable, I…… I feel that my mental state still has some residual turbulence, not very stable. Could you…… could you please perform a shallow-layer guidance? It will be quick!"

His eyes were filled with anticipation.

As a front‑charging A‑grade sentinel in fierce combat, it is customary after battle to request a shallow‑layer guidance from a commander or senior guide to stabilize one's condition, and such requests are usually not refused.